Not just Chattanooga real estate, either. Since the end of 2007, as the real estate market started to decline, new rules, regulations, mandates and more have come down the pipeline.
State Specific Laws
Take Michigan, for instance. Ranking sixth in the nation on the number of foreclosures, Michigan legislature enacted the “Lifeline Law.” This law gives an extra 90 days for homeowners to work with banks to come up with solutions other than foreclosure. California did the same, with the California Foreclosure Prevention Act. In New York, judicial hearings are mandatory for both borrowers and lenders before foreclosure can go through.
Nationwide Laws
Other laws have been enacted throughout the United States, such as Congress lowering homeowners’ tax deductions.
Before 2009, if you used your Chattanooga real estate as a primary residence for at least two years out of the last five, you could keep up to $500,000 (married couples – $250,000 if single) in real estate gains on your tax return. That exemption is now pro-rated to the time you spent in the house, which could be quite substantially less than what your tax exemption would have been last year.
As well, new appraisal rules went into effect May 1, and, although they aren’t government rules, they do affect Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. With the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) put into place, every lender that goes through Freddie or Fannie has to follow the HVCC to the letter. The HVCC stops mortgage brokers from having home appraisals done themselves. Instead, the home appraisals must be done by a third party appraisal management company in the same area as the home.
Laws that Affect You
Other laws have been put into place that may (or may not) effect the Chattanooga real estate you own or are looking to buy. However, with so many coming down the line, make sure that you ask your real estate agent what laws have been put into place that may affect your purchase, sales or ownership.
If you’re looking to buy or sell real estate and need a professional who keeps up to date on the real estate laws, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.
Keyword/Tag: Chattanooga real estate
Links:
Lifeline Law
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111013&catid=48
California Foreclosure Prevention Act
http://www.corp.ca.gov/FSD/CFP/default.asp
HVCC
https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides/ssg/relatedsellinginfo/appcode/pdf/hvccfaqs.pdf
Travis CloseABR,e-PRO, GREEN, RCC
Prudential realtyCenter.com
1315 Taft Highway
Signal Mountain, Tn 37377
423-488-1882
423-886-2601